THE NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL

The natural order, what does that phrase mean? Many a times those three words hold different weights depending on the tongue. At times the words encapsulate the heaviness of a feather floating seamlessly blending with the wind and at others containing the lightness of a mountain anchored to the land. For the two people facing each other now those words meant everything.

The air was stiff, heavy with the stench of death. The ground scarred, littered by bodies of opposing sides, a gradating backdrop of bright red, ashes and smoke a testament to the destruction. Deafening screams a common occurrence with periodic intervals but those too slowly died down only leaving whispers to the wind. The adversaries were all that remained of the battle. Two final bosses facing off a fire lit between them. Now the question that stood was what was the source of this fire, what choice would these two take? Did they carry the flames of fury passed down to them or will the flames of passion ignited within them serve as a chance to enervate the heaviness of that very phrase?

***

A puff of air, a lungful of it was what I took each morning of my resurrection, as such this morning was no exception. I was back from my analogous charge, back from a loop that among other things has hunted me all my life. At this point it is part of my daily bread among other variations of my version of a night's rest. Anyway, light was back up in the sky, rays of it permeating through my bedroom window. The critters outside were rejoicing at the beauty of the world but my mind couldn't get over the art exhibition it witnessed yesterday.

Now as if I was a broken record, the questions came back, how did I get to my room? Was all that happened yesterday just another bad dream? Will mom burst in like she previously did to inform me of her departure? I held my breathe for what felt like an eternity waiting for my carrier to burst through the door. All I could hope for was that this was just the latest loop I had found myself trapped in. Then finally the door opened.

"JASMINE!!!"

"Hey, how did you sleep?"

"Oh, sure, just casually ask how I slept like that's the most pressing question here. Never mind the fact that you're in my room, or, you know, the minor detail that you're in my house!"

"Easy Em, it's way too early in the morning for that kind of heat. Aren't you happy to see my face?"

"As happy as I can be. Look at me aren't I a ray of sunshine. I perfectly captured yesterday's essence don't you think."

"As I told you before Em, I had my reasons."

"Sure you did."

"So how did you sleep?"

"What do you think?"

"You were tossing and turning all night. I suppose it's still the same as it was plus with what happened yesterday pfft, Must be rough."

"…Wait what did you say?"

"With what happen yesterday?"

"No, not that the other thing."

"Must have been rough?"

"No not that the other one."

"You were tossing and turning all night?"

"Yes that, I didn't know I had a spectator last night."

"I mean yeah, how else would I have kept my eye on you? Their deaths clearly had a huge impact on you plus who do you think put you to bed?"

"Good old Jasmine the great care giver. How wonderful to have you sharing my burden"

"What do you mean, didn't we always sleep together all the time when we were young."

"Yes, that's true. I mean we shared everything when we're young so what is wrong with sharing it now too right? It's not like we have not seen or talked to each for two years yeah"

"Well, got to burst it to you, it's not your room plus we didn't even sleep in the same bed. Em, Aren't you focusing on the wrong thing? Is it a coping mechanism? Anyway whatever, I am going to take a shower now am extra sweaty from my run."

"What do you mean?"

"Bye Emma."

"Jasmine! Jasmine!! What do you mean Jasmine?"

What does she mean because clearly this is my room. I mean everything from the monochrome of the canvas to the bibliosmia of the cyclic portal to the tactility of a stenciled floor everything is identical to mine. There is even a workstation similar to mine… She did have a room similar to mine when we were young, but wouldn't she have change it by now plus how does she know of my ever-evolving mural?... That is not important now. She is got a point though. I am focusing on the wrong things my priority should be getting out of here.

So, the piece from yesterday was real. How am I going to deal with this? Mom charged me with the care of Josie and granma but… I failed her. She is going to be devastated. I need to get out of here.

"Emma!! What's the rush?"

" Mrs. White! Sorry about that, I didn't see you there. It's just that I am in a hurry. I need to go back home."

"Right now?"

"Yeah…"

"Was a night at our house really that terrible?"

"Noooo, That's not really the case, it's just that I need to get home. There is something important I have to do."

"Ok sure thing Emma, but first you need to get out of those pajamas."

"Huh! Yeah, right away Mrs. White I didn't notice I was still in …my pajamas?"

"Oh, those are Jasmine's, your clothes were dirty so I put them in the washer."

"Ahhh I see, Thank you very much Mrs. White and sorry for the troubles."

"Don't mention it. We are family aren't we so treat this as your second home."

"I appreciate it Mrs. White. So… Are my clothes ready? I really need to get back home."

"Unfortunately not, but you can borrow some of Jasmine's."

"Jasmine's?"

"Yeah, I am sure she won't mind."

"Well, I don't really want to intrude."

"It's nothing, you guys are pretty much sisters so she will surely share her clothes with you."

"No, it's okay I can go back home and change out of this and return it tomorrow so…"

"Absolutely not! How can I let you leave like this?"

"But…"

"No I insist you have a shower then stay for breakfast and I will not take a no for an answer."

"…Ok, if you insist."

"Great, you can go take a nice warm shower to clean yourself up then come down for a tasty meal and next time be gentle with the door."

"Well… Okay Mrs. White and thanks."

Wow that is one persistent lady I guess I just need to freshen up have the meal and that would be my ticket out of this persisting checkpoint.

That was what I thought so why am I still attached at the hip with this shadow of the past.

"Are you ready Em? We need to leave for scho-…

I have got to say, you look quite dazzling in those bright beautiful colors you should wear them more."

"…"

"Are you all set girls?"

"Yes Mother, we are off now. Let's go Em."

"Have a good day girls."

"… You too Mrs White."

"Finally, I made it out."

The morning air quickly made its presence known as the signature scent of mother nature made its appeal. The day seemed just like any other but the aura of the world made me see that this was not just another regular day. While I made it passed mother sunshine, it was now time to cut off the child.

"Look Jasmine here is the thing, you head to school on your own I need to…"

"Let me stop you there, were you going to say you are heading to your place?"

"No of course not, I just want to try and find a new route to school this has nothing to do with my dead grandma or big sister."

"Sure you do so let's go together."

"Go together? Why should we? Don't act so friendly with me. I thought we were strangers isn't that how you wanted us to treat each other yesterday. Well message received so don't try to act like my friend when that's not the case."

"I told you before Em I had my reasons so stop acting like a child and let's go."

"A child? Pot calling the kettle black. This child doesn't know that child bye."

"Really Emma."

"We are strangers aren't we? At least I thought we were with how brrr-azen your entry and exit were."

"…"

Good, looks like I am getting to her. I can't let her get too close to me when we don't know who is targeting my family. She is nothing more than a pet so she won't be of any help so no need to risk her life too.

"So that's what this is about… Are you mad that I moved away?"

"As if!"

"You definitely are"

" Think however you like… No don't come near me, don't you dare come near me."

"It's alright I am here now Emma and I am sorry."

No why is she hugging me. I was always weak to her embrace, oh no here comes that familiar warmth. That giddy feeling of cuddling with your puppy, the happiness of losing yourself in euphoria.

"Do you feel better now Em?"

"…"

"I knew it. My bear hugs always seem to do the trick, now let's go."

Before I knew it Jasmine was holding my hand and we were running down the lonesome street just like we used to as kids. For a moment everything felt right with the world, and it was but as the sight of my house come into view so did my anchor on reality.

"Jasmine here is the thi-"

"Emma! Are you seeing what I am seeing?"

"Yeah, who are those people and what are they doing at my house? I was expecting to maybe see detectives in blue not detectives in green."

"Yeah, let's move closer to see what is going on."

"Hey you two what are you doing there? Didn't you see the signs? This area is flooded with dangerous levels of radiation so no one is allowed to come close."

"Radiation? Is that why you are all suit up? Don't worry, this place was just fine yesterday."

"Well it is not now so if you don't want to experience your skin falling off your face in the most gruesome of ways then its best you stay clear of this place."

"Ok, thanks miss... Emma! Let's go."

"Go? Go where?"

"To school"

" To school? Now? No I got a better Idea. Let's paint the house black . Because clearly it's not invisible enough for them"

"Emma, relax."

"Relax? I am very relaxed; all I am saying is that we paint the house black. Isn't it wonderful . I mean it just so happens that my house is suddenly full of radiation the morning after my grandmother and sister were brutally minced. So shouldn't we cover up the stains."

"Well, I don't know about all that, all I know is that a huge energy pulse was detected at this place and when we arrived to investigate, we found the house was flooded with dangerous levels of radioactivity."

"Captain! Captain, you should come see this."

"I have gotta go and so should you, this place is not suitable for little kids like you."

"After you Madam!"

"Captain!!!"

"Kid I don't have time for this, you should leave now before I get rough."

"Emma let's just go for now, we will come back later when they are not around to check things out."

"Of course, because who doesn't love waiting around forever? No worries, I've got all the time in the world to hang out here."

"Look, we are wasting a lot of energy. Let's just go to school I promise I will help you see them again."

"But how can I give up so easily."

"Okay I get that you are anxious, angry, afraid and just want answers but how can we get them with these many people against us plus what if it there really is dangerous levels of radiation. Trying to force our way in will not achieve anything. The best thing for us to do is to go to school for the day then come back later to investigate."

"So that they can have freedom to tamper with evidence or erase it all together. Absolutely why don't you."

"You think too much, that definitely won't be a problem."

"And how are you so sure?"

"Well clearly, they have the resources to but why would they use radioactivity as a cover up? This seems much grander than a simple murder mystery. There must be something much more important than the death of your loved ones."

"Something much more important than their deaths? Are you trying to say that the death of my family members is insignificant?"

"You know that's not what I meant, of course their deaths is something very devastating and the murderer should be brought to justice but to these people the murder might be insignificant."

"I suppose you maybe right but I still need to find their bodies before they disappear."

"Hey kid! You're still here?"

"I want answers!!"

"Okay stand right there I am coming over"

"Emma, I have something that I have to tell you."

"Can't it wait. This looks like a good chance. They don't seem to have gone into the house so I can still get to the bodies."

"Emma."

"Not now Jasmine!"

"Hey kid, did you say that this is your house?"

"Yeah, what of it? Are you willing to hear me out now?"

"If you answer my questions then I will be happy to help with your situation."

"Okay then ask away?"

"Which witch family are you from?"

"What? Witch family? Those still exist? I thought they died in the bronze age."

"Look kid, as you can see, we are psion inspectors from the investigative division and we have reason to suspect an omicron tier spell has been cast and by witch law you do know how dangerous and illegal casting such types of spells is. So just cooperate and we can settle this issue swiftly.

"So which witch family resided in this unregistered hovel?"

"You look like a nice lady, so do they allow smoking at work? To be frank I don't really care what you do or who you are so can we just stop this farce. Let me just see my dead relatives."

"See that's the thing sweetheart, the house just happened to be under an interference bubble with a time limit of 128 hours well 116ish now but you get the point, just enough time for the spell residue levels to decay to normal values."

"You are a crazy lady but that's not going to stop me."

"Emma, WAIT!!!"

"...Ouch!!!"

"I told you kid"

"Emma are you okay?"

"Yep nothing feels better than getting slammed by an invisible barrier."

"I think we have to go now?'

"But…"

"Look whatever is going on it doesn't look pretty and those rough looking women are not going to give you any useful info let's just go for now. They can't enter the into the place anyway."

"…"

"Hey kid!"

"Okay let's go."

And off we went. Jasmine held on to my hand and yanked me with such force that before I knew it, we were already making a run track out of the sidewalk. Well, I missed my morning run I suppose this is not such a bad thing.

The air was gracefully sliding on my skin, an aura of calm pervading with it, we were hand in hand with the one person I viewed as my soulmate, a personal compliment to my dark existence, the day to my night, the cheery to my somber, my best friend.

"Em, I think we should split up here"

"Split up! Why?"

"…"

"Ah I see, back to bitch mode now that we have reached this melting pot full of hormonal teenagers. I suppose I am a hindrance to your new experiences. Let's part ways here then. Tata"

"Emma that's not what I meant, it's just…"

"Don't even bother with the excuses. We are walking different paths now. Bye"

"Emma, wait, I promise you that I can explain"

"…"

"Emma, Emma!"

And with that I took my strides down the dark cold path, I am used to. It wasn't the first time she left me to my desolation.

"What's up you. You up for this weekend? I have something lit set up."

"Do I know you?"

"Come on Josie are you going to blow me off again. Last time you told me you had a thing with your family and now you are trying to make it seem like am a stranger."

"Josie? Sorry, do I look like that... Look, I am not Josie but Emma her little sister"

"Emma?... The emo kid!"

"… Is that what I am?"

"Wow you look exactly like her without all that other stuff were you guys twins or something?"

"… What do you think?"

"...Anyway don't mind me. I am Rafael sure she has mentioned me a bit, "

"She sure has. So anything I can help you with?"

"Nah, maybe just a favor. Tell her that I will be waiting for her on Saturday."

"That is going to be a little hard to…"

He already left. I guess that's good in its own way I don't know how to break it to him that his girlfriend is dead. Whoa I am running a bit late for my first period.

"Ms. Mir, do you have a moment?"

"Ms. Park?... I am a bit late for my first period soo…"

"I will make it quick. Have you thought of my proposal to you?"

"Proposal?"

"Yeah, I am still gathering talents for the orchestra I told you about. So do you think you can take up the position of first chair?"

"Ms. Park, I think you have the wrong person."

"No, I am certain I have not, I have seen your talent as a violinist and I am sure that you have got what it takes to become a world class violinist so please once again consider joining my group."

"No no no! You don't understand, I can't accept because I am Emma Mir."

"Emma? Not Josephine Mir."

"Yes"

"Oh sorry my mistake you look so much like your sister."

" Oh do I? I suppose it's the blood, soooo can I go now"

"Yeah sure thing but please pass my message to your sister."

"…K"

Violinist? Did Josie ever play the violin. I didn't know she had such a hobby. Would have loved to her play some time but that unfortunately will not be possible. Now what's up with people today, do I look that similar to her just because I have worn something a bit different. I suppose we do look similar to some extent, anyway whatever, hope this day will fly by so that I can deal with the issue at hand.

***

A sweet scent is wafting through the air exciting my olfactory cells. A mix of fresh slightly spicy scent with a fruity under tone and a metallic trail of a coppery ironish flavor. My vision is a bit hazy with limited light but I am able to make out an image of metallic bars covered in red roses. That must be where the sweet metallic scent is coming from. My body is ice cold and yet I feel no need to shiver in any way. I am overwhelmed by a feeling of confusion and a mad ravenous thirst. When I tilt my head to the side I am greeted by a big backet of piping hot life gel. It's strong red hues just melting from within. Chain seems to be on each of my limbs with them leaving me only enough room to reach the bucket of blood. I guess the metallic scent is coming from various sources. I slowly get up and start moving but how is it possible I have no recollection of designating such an action but all the same my body moves as if it is an instinct. I then reach the bucket on for my body to suddenly bend down as if I am about to drink out of a spring. What situation is this, Am I going to really slurp up such a disgusting batch as if it was a beverage?

"Mrs Mir! Mrs Mir! Earth to Emma Mir."

"Yes!"

"You have finally rejoined us earthlings. Can you come to the front and show the class how we solve this equation."

" I… I would love too but I don't know how...."

"Then pay attention in class while I teach."

"Yes Mr Evans."

"Mr Remington would you like to try."

"Sure thing, ok so when we solving the equation we…"

What was that? Was it a dream? I have never had such vivid scenes during the day. Is my condition evolving? Maybe my stress and shock from the deaths is agitating it. If that is the case, then I really need to get to the bottom of the murders

Finally it's lunch time maybe I could use this time to sneak out of school and head back home and collect some clues.

Is that Jasmine with Victoria? Since when were those two close. Why should I care anyway. Don't look at her don't look at her as she is passing by. Oh no I looked. She already made a choice but what was with that face?

It was as if she was screaming for help. Is she maybe being bullied? No, I don't think so. She has always been a nice girl so in no way is she being bullied. Lets just leave her to her new experience. So off campus I go, or so I thought.

I found myself heading towards the same direction Victoria and Jasmine were. Why did they just enter the girl's washroom? Is she really being bullied?

"So what is it going to be you little mut? Are you going to give it to me or not?"

"Ok here take it, but please do as you promised and talk to your mom?

"Didn't know we are having a party here"

"Emma!!!"

"It's nothing for you to be concerned with."

"Well if it is something to do with Jasmine then it concerns me so what did you do to her?"

"Did I do anything to you mutt?"

"Mutt? Oh I will show you who the mutt is here today."

"Huh, you are hurting my head you savage."

"Emma stop!"

"Not until she learns her lesson."

"Emma please just stop. I don't need your help. You do not know what problems you are creating here."

"I definitely do."

"Get off me psycho, is this how you ask for help mutt?"

"Sorry Master. Emma Apologise to her now?

"Shouldn't you be thanking me. I am helping you right now."

"Help, more like hindrance so please apologise"

"Apologise? To this fool?"

"Yes."

"And why would I."

"She is helping me with something so just apologise now."

"Really?"

"Yes, please I am begging you!"

"And what if-"

What does she have on Jasmine to make her act like this.

"Okay, sorry."

"Huh I didn't catch that can you repeat?"

"I said I am sorry."

"That's right, and remember you place."

"Let's go mut."

"Jasmine are you really going to let her treat you like that"

"Just mind your business Emma, I don't want you ruining this for me."

"Wow, that's harsh but it is what it is come along mutt. I will treat you well."

What was that? Did I read the

situation wrongly? Is she after her because of her wealth? Well whatever, its

not my problem now so I should just take my leave.

Man I just can't seem to let this

go huh? It's the end of school and here I am still waiting for that phony

friend. There she is. Where is she going? Weren't we suppose to meet after? She

has forgotten about too, so much for rebuilding bridges.

I just can't seem to let her

go as if she has this hold me but I have never seen her wear such an expression

before.

I was planning to trail her for a

while just to see where she goes but we ended up wandering to the woods till

the sun went down and the moon was up. The moment the light of the moon filled

the sky I witnessed something I could never have imaginef.